The Bailliage’s annual induction dinner was very special this year for a number of reasons. The Union League of Philadelphia, America’s top private city club, played host and featured a unique menu just for us by Executive Chef Martin Hamann.

Opening the evening, the Induction Ceremony was presided over by John Fannin, Bailli Provincial Mid-Atlantic.

We had asked Chef Hamann to come up with a menu that would pair with the very special wines we would be pouring. He rose to the challenge and created a dinner that we will all remember for a long time.

MENU

Hors d’œuvre
Chef’s selection
Crémant de Bourgogne Brut ‘Cuvée S’2011
Simonnet-Febvre

Cream of Savoy cabbage soup
grilled Belon oysters, bacon, potato confit
Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru 2012
Louis Latour

Late-harvest corn flan
charred maitake mushrooms, braised pork shoulder
rye crouton, Madeira hollandaise
Volnay Premier Cru ‘En Chevret’ 2009
Louis Latour

Roasted veal tenderloin
crisp sweetbreads, savoury mushroom, foie gras
black truffle Pithivier, natural reduction
Corton Grancey Grand Cru 2012
Louis Latour

Mignardises

The wines we poured were among the finest in the world from one of the best-loved wine producing regions anywhere. Not only did we taste Grand Cru and Premier Cru wines in magnum from one of Burgundy’s top producers, but Louis-Fabrice Latour himself, the eleventh-generation winemaker of Maison Louis Latour attended as our guest and offered his insights into winemaking, weather and what makes Latour unique.

Anticipation and suspense built through the evening as guests knew that four live and ten silent auction lots would be coming up. They also knew that they would be donating to a great cause: the Bailliage of USA “Chaîne Foundation”.

Guests could bid on several different wines donated by members as well as wines from the Bailliage’s cellar. Topping off the auction was an offer by Louis-Fabrice of a tour, tasting and lunch at his chateau in Burgundy.

The auction exceeded our wildest expectations as Louis-Fabrice added a second tour! At the final count $20,000 had been raised.

It was truly a grand evening on so many levels and one few will ever forget.

Matthew Karstetter
Chambellan Provincial Mid-Atlantic (who acts as Bailli of Delaware Valley)

Photographs by Vice-Chargée de Missions Ellen Rosenberg